Clover-seed harvester.



PATENTED FEB.. 7, 1905.

J. 0. \KISTLER.

CLOVER SEED HARVBSTER.

APPLICATION TILED JUNE 17, 1904.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Inventor.

No. 781,662. PATENTED FEB. 7, 1905. J. G. KISTLER. CLOVER SEED HARVESTER.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 17, 1904.

2 SHBETSSHEET 2.

I I I I 10 36 J E $3 19- if I 23 Witnesses IKventor.

I J5 @4. (70577, (Zfflslier 11 ttomegs UNTTED STATES Patented February '7, 1905.

PATENT QEETCE- CLOVER-SEED HARVESTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 781,662, dated February '7, 1905.

Application filed June 17,1904. Serial No. 213,012.

To 11]] [I'll/OWL it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, JOHN C. KIS'ILER, a citi- Zen of the United States. residing at Clinton, in the county of Henry and State of Missouri,

have invented a new and useful Clover-Seed ress of the machine and having picker-teeth of approximately triangular shape set closely together and cooperating to engage the straw, to remove the heads, and to carry the latter in an upward and rearward direction onto an endless apron or carrier, also to strip the heads from said teeth or pickers in order to prevent clogging.

\Yith these and other ends in view, which will readily appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the improved construction and novel arrangement and combination of parts, which will be hereinafter fully described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a machine constructed in accordance with the principles of the invention. Fig. .2 is a top plan view of the same. Fig. 3 is a rear elevation. Figs. i and 5 are detail views, on an enlarged scale, of the seed-stripping mechanism. Fig. 6 is a detail elevation of a portion of the machine, seen from the opposite side to that illustrated in Fig. 1.

Corresponding parts in the several figures are indicated by similar characters of reference.

The frame of this machine, which is generally designated F, is provided with boxes or bearings for the main shaft or axle I, carry 1 twelve inches in length each.

ing the transporting and operating wheel 2. A supporting-wheel 3 is provided at the 0pposite end of the frame. Hingedly connected with the latter is a tongue 4, having means 5 for theattaclnnent of the draft. Means are also to be provided for adjusting the position of the tongue with relation to the frame for the purpose of raising or lowering the front end of the latter, as may be required, said means being conventionally indicated as in cluding a bell-crank lever 6. fulcrumed upon the frame, a link T, connecting one arm of said bell-crank with the tongue, and a quadrant 8, adapted to be engaged by a springactuated dog 9, connected with the upwardlyextending arm of the bell-crank.

The frame F includes members which serve to support boxes or bearings for a pair of shafts 9 and LO, carrying rollers 11 and 12, supporting an endless apron or carrier 13, which is disposed in an upwardly and rearwardly inclined position. In advance of the shaft 9, which carries the lower front roller 11, are provided bearings fora shaft 1i, which 1 designate the picker-shaft." This shaft, which may be described as constituting the core of the rotary pickerhead P, is polygonal in cross-section for the greater portion of its length that is, the portion which is disposed in advance of the lower portion of the apron or carrier which, as will be presently seen, receives the heads stripped by the pickerhead and conveys the same in an upward and rearward direction. In the accompanying drawings the portion of the shaft H which constitutes the core of the picker-howl is shown as being square in cross-section; but it is to be understood that without departing from the invention this special conliguration is not essential, since under some circumstances a triangular shaft or one having more than four sides may be zulvautageonsly eniploycd. To each side of said shaft is secured a plurality of sharp-pointed teeth or pickers, which are individuallydesignated 15. These teeth or pickers may be ad vantageonsl y struck up from sheet-steel, preferably in sections of such length that three or four sections shall equal the length of the polygonal portion of the shaft; said sections being approximately Each of these sections, one of which (indicated by letter S) has been shown in Fig. i of the drawings,

consists of abase 16, from which the teeth extend at a slight upward angle, the bases of the teeth being preferably provided with corrugations (indicated at 17) whereby the construction is strengthened and reinforced. The teeth15 are of the elongated tapering shape (clearly shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings) and are provided with sharp points 18, which are spaced apart sufficiently for the stalks of grass, grain, clover, or the like that is being operated upon to enter readily between the teeth, the heads being stripped by contact with the edges of the-teeth, which are approximately parallel at their inner ends, as shown. The bases 16 are made of a width equal to that of the sides of the polygonal shaft portion to which they are bolted or otherwise securely attached, the teeth being thus disposed radially with relation to the axis of the shaft. It is preferred that the bases of the teeth be spaced slightly apart, as will be clearly seen by reference to Fig. 4 of the drawings, the outer ends of said teeth terminating in sharp points 18.

A curved shield 19 is attached to the frame of the machine in front of the rotary pickerhead, the point of attachment being about in the horizontal plane in which the picker-shaft is disposed, said shield being curved, so as to afford a protective casing for the picker-head and also to prevent the waste of seed detached from the straw and carried in an upward and rearward direction by the action of the pickerhead. Below the front end of the apron or endless carrier 13 is disposed another shield or trough, 20, forming a receptacle for such of the heads as are not deposited directly upon the apron by the action of the pickerhead and from which such heads may be subsequently removed, either manually or by the action of the endless carrier. To the upper front edge of the shield 20 are secured a plurality of forwardly-extending fingers 21, disposed intercurrently with the picker-teeth 15 and serving to remove from the latter any heads or other material which may have become wedged or lodged between said pickerteeth.

The main shaft or axle 1 is provided with a spur-gear 22, which is normally loose upon said axle and which is capable of being connected therewith by means of a clutch mechanism, (conventionally indicated at 23,) said clutch mechanism being capable of disengagement from the spur-wheel to permit the latter to rotate loosely upon the shaft when it shall be desired to throw the machine out of operation, while by means of said clutch mechanism the spur-wheel maybe locked upon the shaft and caused to partake of the rotary movement of the latter. The spur-wheel 22 meshes with a pinion 24, mounted upon the shaft 25 above and in rear of the axle, said shaft 25 carrying a sprocket-wheel 26, which is connected, by means of a chain 27, with smaller sprocket-wheels 28 and 29, mounted upon the shafts of the picker and lower aproncarrying roller, respectively. The proportions of the respective gears and sprockets are such that the picker-shaft and the shaft carrying the lower apron-roller shall be rotated at a considerable rate of speed. The shaft 9 of the lower apron-carrying roller has a sprocket-wheel 30, which is connected by a chain 31 with the sprocket-wheel 32 upon the shaft 10 of the upper apron-carrying roller, to which motion is thus positively transmitted.

Suitably supported below the delivery end of the endless apron or carrier 13 is a shaft 33, carrying a cylinder 34, having a rough or rasp-like surface. The shaft 33 has a sprocketwheel 35, which, together with the sprocketwheels and 32, is driven by the chain 31. The opposite end of the shaft 33 carries a small pinion 36, meshing with a spur-wheel 37 upon a shaft 38, which carries a small cylinder 39, having a rough or rasp-like surface corresponding with that of the cylinder 34. The small cylinder 39 will thus be rotated in a direction opposite to that of the large cylinder 34 and at a much slower speed. The material discharged over the upper end of the apron or endless carrier 13 will be deposited upon the cylinders 34 and 39 and between said cylinders will be ground or masticated in such a manner that the seeds and chaff will become thoroughly separated from the heads, straw,

and other coarse matter.

Beneath the masticating-cylinders is disposed a trough 40, in which a spiral feedscrew 41 is mounted for rotation. This feedscrew may be driven by means of a belt or chain 42 from the shaft 33, carrying the large masticating-cylinder. To the-front edge of the trough are secured a plurality of rearwardly-extending fingers 43, which cooperate to constitute a sieve or riddle, between which the seeds and chaff may pass from the masticating-cylinders into the trough, the heads, straw, and coarse matter being discharged upon the ground in rear of the machine over the rear ends of the fingers 43. The latter are preferably made of elastic or resilient ma terial, such as wire, and being attached at their front ends only they will as the machine progresses be caused to partake of a jolting and vibratory movement, which greatly assists in separating the values from the refuse.

Supported upon the rear part of the frame F is a casing 44, having bearings for a shaft 45, carrying a hulling-cylinder 46. A plurality of shafts 47, disposed within the casing in an arc concentric with the shaft 45, carry a plurality of small rough-faced cylinders 48, which cooperate with the hulling-cylinder 46 to hull the seeds which are discharged into the casing 44 from the trough 40, in which the spiral feed-screw is located. It is to be understood that any desired number of the small cylinders 48 may be employed and that I prefer to use as many as may be conveniently disposed within the space allotted thereto, said cylinders cooperating with each other to constitute what may be termed a concave for the hulling-cylinder i6. The shaft 45 of the latter is provided at its front end with a bevel-gear 49, meshing with a pinion 50 upon the end of the shaft 25, carrying the pinion 2a, to which motion is transmitted directly from the spur-wheel 22 upon the axle of the machine. The shaft L5 of the hulling-cylinder 4:6 carries a small pinion 54. meshing with a stair-wheel 55, upon the shaft of one of the small cylinders 48. The several shafts 47 are provided at their rear ends with sprocketwheels 56, all of which are connected by a chain 57, so that they will all be rotated in the same direction, which is opposite to the direction of rotation of the hulling-cylinder, but at a much slower speed, thus causing the seeds to be thoroughly hulled, as will be readily understood.

The casing 4st contains a sieve or riddle 58, into which the seeds and hulls are dropped as they pass between the hulling-cylinder and the cylinders 48. The seeds passing through the riddle are exposed to the blast from a fan 59, arranged below the casing H and serving to discharge the husks and chaff through an opening in the rear end of the casing, the seeds being discharged through the riddle into a hopper 60, suitably disposed for their reception. The clean seed passes from the hopper to an elevator 61, at the upper end of which it is discharged into a suitably-supported bag or receptacle 62. The fan-shaft is provided at one end with a pulley 63, connected by a belt 64 with a pulley 65, upon the shaft of the hulling-eylinder. The opposite end of the fan-shaft has an eccentric 66, connected by a strap and connecting-rod 67 with the riddle 58, which is hung in such a manner as to be capable of being vibrated by the action of said eccentric.

The operation of this invention and its advantages will be readily understood from the foregoing description taken in connection with the drawings hereto annexed. It may be premised that while the machine is designated a clover-seed harvester, and while it is particularly adapted for the purpose of harvesting clover-seed, its use is not necessarily limited to this purpose, since it may be efficiently employed for the purpose of harvesting various other kinds of seed and grain. \Vhen the machine progresses over the field, the picker-head will be rotated, as herein described, in a direction reverse to the line of progress--that is, the picker-head will be so rotated that the teeth advancing from below will engage and remove the heads from the clover and carry the same in an upward and rearward direction to be deposited upon the endless apron, the interspaces between the teeth being cleaned by the lingers provided for the purpose. The heads being carried upward by the endless carrier are discharged onto the raspingor masticating rollers, whereby the seeds and chaff will be thoroughly rubbed out of the heads, the latter and other course material being discharged over the screen-fingers at the upper edge of the conveyer-trough, while the seed passes onto the latter and is discharged at one end thereof into the hopper, where it is acted upon until having been cleansed and freed from impurities it passes to the elevator, whereby it is conveyed to the sack or other receptacle prepared for it.

The drivers seat is by preference located adjacent to the elevator, and the entire mechanism is to be constructed and proportioned in amanner to insure the most satisfactory results. Among other details I desire to state that it is intended to make the bearing-boxes for the various cylinder-carrying shafts adjustable in order that the cylinders of the masticating-cells of the hulling mechanism may be disposed at any desired distance apart and secured with the most satisfactory results.

Any suitable driving mechanism may be introduced for the purpose of operating the elevator.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is 1. In a machine of the class described, a picker-head mounted for rotation and polygonal in cross-section, in combination with plates secured to the sides of said picker-head and having tapering, sharp-pointed teeth provided with head-stripping side edges, said teeth extending at an angle to said plates whereby said teeth shall be disposed radially at the angles or corners of the picker-head.

2. Ina machine of the class described, a polygonal picker-head mounted to rotate with its front side ascending, said head having plates secured to the sides thereof and formed with tapering, sharp-pointed teeth provided with head-stripping edges, said teeth extending radially from the corners of the pickerhead.

3. In a machine of the class described, an approximately polygonal picker-head mounted for rotation in a direction reverse to that of the supporting-wheels, approximattdy triangular-teeth extending from the sides of said [)lCliCY-llfltl, and a shield su1. portcd in front of the picker-heath said shield being curved rearwardly over the picker-head.

L. In a machine of the class described, a revoluble picker-head including a shaft, polygonal in cross-section, and toothed sections secured to the sides of said shaft, each of said sections comprising a base and a plurality of outwardly-extending approximately triangular teeth corrugated longitudinally near the bases thereof.

5. In a machine of the class described, a revoluble' picker-head having longitudinallydisposed series of approximately triangular teeth, in combination with suitably-supported fingers disposed in rear of the picker-head, intercurrently between the teeth and extending between the latter.

6. In a machine of the class described, a picker-head mounted for rotation and having longitudinally disposed series of approximately triangular teeth, an endless carrier disposed to receive the matter stripped by and discharged from said teeth, a trough supported below the lower end of the endless carrier, and fingers extending from the front edge of said trough, intercurrently with the teeth and extending between the latter.

7. In a machine of the class described, a rotary stripping-head mounted to rotate with its front side ascending a shield, supported in front of said stripping-head and extending rearwardly over the latter, and an endless carrier disposed to receive the material discharged by the stripper-head.

8. In a machine of the class described, a stripping-head mounted to rotate with its front side ascending, a shield supported in front of said stripping-head and extending rearwardly over the latter, an endless carrier having its lower end extended below the rear edge of said shield, and a trough supported below the lower end of the carrier and having fingers disposed intercurrentl y with and extending between the teeth of the picker.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto aflixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

I JOHN G. KIS'ILER,

itnesses:

G. (J. HAYsLnR. H. H. IVILLIAMS. 

